Vacant School Site Being Converted Into New Lonsdale Park

At a July 30, 2024, community meeting at the Haslam-Sansom Ministry Complex, 1740 Texas Ave., the Lonsdale Park design team showed residents the latest renderings. Public input gathered in previous meetings was used to guide and shape the design.

The City is investing $4 million in this new park. Initial construction is anticipated to begin in 2025.

Work on the demolition of much of the old vacant Sam E. Hill School is underway - the first major step in converting the site into a new Lonsdale community park.

Part of the iconic school will be preserved, while the 150,000-square-foot site will be diversified to make room for sports, children’s play, and open space for community events. 

The new park will be able to host the Lonsdale Homecoming and other festivities. It will have a basketball court, a playground, a community event lawn, a multi-purpose community room with restrooms, and a covered pavilion with staging for food trucks, among other amenities. 


In public meetings and through surveys, City Parks and Recreation staff has been gathering input from Lonsdale residents on what features they want to be included as the new Lonsdale community park is designed. Pictured here is an April 27, 2023 community meeting at Lonsdale Elementary School.


Mayor Indya Kincannon's proposed 2023-24 budget includes $1 million for the Lonsdale Park project - a third budget year with investment for the park project, for a total of $2.5 million.